Grate construction



Feb. 28, 1933 HAYES 1,899,033

GRATE GONSTRUCTI ON Filed May 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Fred BJYa ea,

Feb. 28,' 1933. B, HAYES 1,899,033

GRATE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 3; 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fit Mentor. Fred 3 lie es,

Feb. 28, 1933. F. B. HAYES 1,899,033

GRATE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fired .B'fla yes,

Feb. 28,1933. F B HAYES 1,899,033

GRATE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 3, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 7 IHIII Illl l HIHI I, j ZO HHH I 49 H il 5 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 lit A @FFH FREE 13. HAYES, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA GRATE CONSTRUCTION Application filed May 3,

This invention relates to grate constructions for fuel burning apparatus, and the main object of the invention is to provide a grate construction by which ash and clinker will be mechanically and efficiently re moved. The invention is well adapted for use in water gas or blue gas generators, and in producers.

By the use of this novel grate construction, manual removal of clinker and ash is obviated, and, in fact, the construction is such that the formation of clinker is substantially prevented.

T he advantages of the invention grow out of the provision of means for uniformly disturbing the lower portion of the tire bed to prevent formation of clinker, means for causing ash and any small amount of clinker which may be formed to drop between the grate bars and from the grate at the marginal edges the eof into the. ash pit, and the position of the grate construction relative to the vertical walls of the generator, whereby formation of clinker on the upright Walls is prevented.

The derangement of the bottom of the fire bed is transmitted in diminished degrees upwardly through the bed for a limited distance, in a uniform and highly satisfactory manner, whereby that part of the fire bed in which ash and clinker normally forms is kept in a desired loosened condition, and the reciprocating movement of the drag beams longitudinally of the grate bars removes the ash and clin er as it forms.

The construction and arrangement of the movable parts relative to the grate bars and other fixed parts of the apparatus is such that a minimum of power is required to recipr cate the movable beams.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a conventional water gas generator embodying my improved grate construction,

the view being taken in a plane somewhat above the top of the grate, showing the generator wall in section and looking down on the top of the grate.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

1929. Serial No. 360,013.

Figure 3 is avertical sectional fragmentary view through the grate taken 011 the line 33 of Figure 2, the same being on a slightly enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a cross section of a modified form of drag beam, the same being on a larger scale than the drag beams shown in similar section in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of grate construction embodying my invention.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line66 of Figure 5, looking down wardly as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure 1, but showing modified form of grate construction.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, a generator, circular in cross section, is shown as comprising a shell or upright wall 10, and a cone-shaped ash pit 11 at its bottom, Somewhat above the cone-shaped bottom of the generator is the fire brick supporting ring indicated at 12, which extends inwardly in a horizontal plane from the circular wall of the generator, and rigidly secured thereto and braced as indicated at 13 to support fire brick 1 1. It will be noted that this arrangement makes the fuel combustion chamber of the generator above the ring 12 to be smaller in diameter than the chamber below it in which the grate construction is mounted. in generator having a shell eleven feet in diameter, the chamber above the ring 12 will be approximately nine feet in diameter, and the ring will be about thirty or thirty two'inches above the top of the ash pit.

The usual grate beams are indicated at 15, their upper flat surfaces 16 providing a support for the grate bars 17 which extend paral lel to each other and at right angles to said support beams 15. Said grate bars extend longitudinallysubstantially across the generator chamber below the ring 12, but not to the vertical walls 10 below the fire brick 1 1. As will be seen by Figures 1 and 2, the ends of the grate bars 17 terminate in vertical planes about half way between the inner surface 18 of the fire brick wall and the inner surface 19 of the generator wall 10. The end bar 17 at each side of the grate is also positioned so as to be inwardly of the wall surface 19 and radially outwardly of the brick wall surface 18.

Transversely, the grate bars 17 are uniformly spaced apart from each other except at those places where spaces are left for two pairs of drag links 20 and connecting links 20 which are positioned in the same horizontal plane as the grate bars 17 as will be seen by Figure 3. y m

The purpose of these drag links 20 is to operatively connect together, a plurality of drag beams 21. The drag beams extend longitudinally at right angles to the grate bars 17 and are of such length that their ends terminate in vertical planes between the generator wall surface 19 and the fire brick wall inner surface 18. The drag beams 21 are connected to the drag links 20 by fiat keys 22 in such manner that the drag beams 21 will rest on the grate bars 17 and be capable of moving thereover, while the drag links 20 are in the same plane as said grate bars 17. If the connecting links 20 are not used, the spaces occupied by them will be filled with grate bars 17, spaced apart uniformly with the bars 17 shown.

The drag beams 21 are preferably hollow, the top thereof comprising two oppositely inclined walls 23, apertured at 24, so that air and steam may pass upwardly and downwardly therethrough. In cross section these drag beams present a triangular shaped device, and they gradually diminish in width from their centers toward their vends. In an eleven foot generator, the drag beams are approximately eight inches in width at their middle or widest portions, and about four inches in height from the apex to the top of the drag links.

The drag links 20 are intended to be reciprocated longitudinally of the grate bars, to move the drag beams across said grate bars. This is accomplished by journalling two pairs of shafts 25 in journals or stufling boxes 26 in the generator wall 10 below the brick 14, said shafts 25 being connected to the outer ends of the drag links as indicated at 27. These shafts are connected to operating mechanism not shown, but indicated at 28, for reciprocating the drag links in a horizontal plane. Preferably. operating mechanism is provided at both sides of the generator, for alternately pulling the pairs of shafts 25 outwardly, to reciprocate the links. This mechanism is not a part of the present invention per se and need not be described.

When the shafts 25 are actuated, they carry the drag links 20 with them, the drag beams 21 will be moved from the position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and then will be returned to said first position. The movement will be timed so that the beams 21 will be moved back and forth every four or five minutes, or at intervals best determined by fire conditions.

The drag links 20 herein described are shown as being in short sect ons extending from one drag beam to the adjacent beam and this is so for convenience in replacing parts, but obviously said drag links could be integral and extend from one shaft 25 to the opposite one.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the grate differs from the grate described in connection with Figures 1 and 2 in that the grate bars do not extend integrally across the generator. In this modified form the grate is in sections. A support beam is indicated at 34-, supporting the center bar 35 with short grate bars 36, the top of the grate bars 36 being in the same plane as the top of the center bar 35.

Four of these grate sections are shown. on top of the upper surfaces of the grate bars 36 are drag links 37 similar to drag links 20, but in this form the drag links 37 are not in the same plane with the grate bars, being connected to the drag beams 38 by pins or keys 39 extending through the drag links and through pairs of lugs 40. The lugs extend outwardly from the inclined. sides of the drag beams 38 so that when the drag links 37 are connected thereto, said drag links have their upper and lower surfaces in the same plane with the top and bottom of the drag beams 38. The bottom surfaces of the beams 38 rest upon the top of the grate sections 35 and 36. To prevent the fuel from dropping too freely into the ash pit between the ends of the grate bars of adjacen grate sections. fuel supports 41 are provided to extend longitudina ly over the spaces between adjacent ends of the bars 36 and parallel with the center bars These fuel supports 41 extend across the generator and are partially imbedded in the tire brick 14 and rigidly secured to the generator shell 10. The fue supports comprise longitudinally extending, oppositely inclined walls slotted or cut away at 42 to permit air and steam to pass therethrough. The s de margins 43 of the fuel supports overhang the ends of the grate bars 36. The fuel. supports are supported between their ends upon posts 44 resting upon the beam 34.

The drag links 37 are operatively connected to reciprocating mechanism. as has already been described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, whereby the drag beams 38 are moved back and forth from the position shown in the solid lines in Figures and (i. to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 and back to said first mentioned position. That is to say. the extent of movement is Hibstantially the width of a grate section so that the beam is moved from the ends of the bars 36 at one side of the grate section to the ends of the bars at the opposite side.

Referring now to the modified form shown in Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that the grate bars are similar to the grate bars 17 and have been so designated, and they rest upon supports 15, having top surfaces 16, and that the length of the grate bars relative to the generator shell and fire brick wall is the same as described in connection with the preferred form. The main difierence is that in this modified form, the drag beams are shown as being in twosections, longitudinally, instead of one. Said sections are indicated at-45 and comprise oppositely inclined walls, apertured at 46, widest at their median portions and gradually diminishing in width toward each end. The length and position of the drag beams 45 are such that the outer ends thereof terminate in planes intermediate the inner surface of the shell wall 10 and the inner surface of the fire brick wall 14.

' As in the form shown in Figure 1, the grate bars are spaced from each other uniformly, except at two places where room is left for drag links 20, secured to the drag beams 45 and to shafts 25, through which reciprocating motion is transmitted to said drag beams. If desired, the beams 45 may be linked together by additional link sections, for added strength. A fuel support 47, slotted at 48, extends longitudinally and parallel with the grate bars 17 from one side of the shell 10 to the other and is partially imbedded in the fire brick 14 at each end. Between its ends, it is further supported by a post 49 bearing upon the grate support beams 15. The

purpose of said fuel support 47 is to prevent too free dropping of fuel into the ash pit between the spaced apart grate bars and the approximate ends of the drag beams 45 which are placed end to end.

The operation of the devices shown in Figures 1 and 7 is substantially the same, in that the beams 21 and 45, respectively, are given a reciprocating movement at right angles to the grate bars, the bottom surfaces of the beams resting on the top of the grate bars, and the outer ends of the beams reaching to the circumferential portions of the grate beneath the fire brick 14, but terminating inwardly of the shell Wall 10. The shape of the beams 21 is such that the spent fuel is loosened from the fire bed and deposited on the grate and caused to fall therethrough or to be moved outwardly in a radial direction by a wedge-like action of the tapered beam, until said spent fuel either falls between the grate bars or over the grate edges between said edges and the shell wall 10. Inthe form shown in Figure '7, the drag beams 45 function similarly to the drag beams 21, except that the spent fuel is moved by the wedgetom of the fire.

like walls of the beams either toward the circumferential portion of the grate outwardly from the middle of the beams, or toward the space in the grate under the fuel support 47.

The modified form of drag beam shown in Figure 4 is substantially square in cross sec.- tion, as indicated at 50, and is apertured at 51. This form is intended to be smaller in cross section and of less height than the drag beams 21, and is particularly adapted for use in generators where soft coal is being burned and less agitation of the fire is desired. Excessive agitation would cause blow holes up through the fuel bed. A beam such as shown in Figure 4. might be 2X2 or 3X3 and would function to skim ofi the ashes'and small clinker formed at the hot- The beam 50 may also be wider at its middleportion than at its ends to cause the spent fuel to be moved radially as described in connection with Figure 1.

I prefer to use grate bars 17 of a cross section such as shown in Figure 3, wherein the bars are wider at their top than at their bottom so that any ash or clinkers which drop between the grate bars at their top will fall freely therethrough.

The invention comprises a grate construction supported independently of that part of the generator which contains the fuel, the grate being located several inches below the bottom of the fuel compartment and of larger diameter than the inside diameter of the fire brick lined fuel compartment. This arrangement prevents the fuel from falling over the edges of the grate except when the drag beams are operated to move the spent fuel toward the edges of the grate.

In a water gas or blue gas machine, the fuel is placed in the generator and ignited in the usual manner, the generator put into operation, which consists of the usual blasting and steaming periods, and after suficient time has elapsed for ash and clinker to begin forming at the bottom of the fire,'the drag beams are caused to be reciprocated by the operative connections between said drag beams and the driving.mechanism, to loosen and to cause ash and clinker to fall through the grate or over the outer edges thereof. -The speed and timing of the movement of the drag beams will be governed by the character of the fuel being used, so that the ash and clinker will be removed as it is being formed.

With the use of this grate construction, a water gas machine may be operated practically continuously because all ash and clinker is removed before it has time to solidify. The provision of apertures or slots in the walls of the hollow beams permits the passage of air and steam therethrough which steam at the bottom of the enerator is part of the usual operation of t e water gas or blue gas machines. Modifications may be made in details of construction without departing from the sco e of my invention.

claim as my invention:

1. In combination with fuel burning apparatus, a stationar 1 grate of larger diameter than the fuel com ustion chamber of the apparatuslocated in the a paratus below said chamber, a plurality of rag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said beams diminishing in width throughout substantially their entire lengths, such diminishing in width extending mm the central portions of the beams toward their ends, said beams being adapted, when reciprocated, to move the spent fuel toward the end and side edges of the grate in directions parallel withthe direction of movement of the beams as well as in directions substantially longitudinally of said beams.

2. In combination with fuel burning apparatus, a stationary grate of larger diameter than the fuel combustion chamber of the apparatus located in the apparatus below said chamber, a plurality of drag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said beams being hollow and having oppositely inclined, apertured top surfaces.

3. In combination with fuel burning apparatus, a stationary grate of larger diameter than the fuel combustion chamber of the apparatus located in the a paratus below said chamber, a plurality of rag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversel of the beams, said beams diminishing in wi th from their central portions toward their ends, being hollow and having oppositely inclined, apertured top surfaces.

4. In combination with fuel burning apparatus, a stationary grate having grate bars of larger diameter than the fuel combustion chamber of the apparatus located in the apparatus below said chamber, a plurality of drag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said beams diminishing in width from their central portions toward their ends, being hollow and having oppositely inclined, apertured top surfaces, said beams extending longitudinally at right angles to the grate bars and being of such length that their respective ends terminate near the edges of the grate, and during part of the reciprocating movement exten over to the grate edges.

5. In combination with fuel burning apparatus, a stationary grate having grate bars of larger diameter than the fuel combustion chamber of the apparatus located in the apparatus below said chamber, a plurality of drag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said connecting links being located between the grate bars and extending parallel with and in the same horizontal plane as the grate bars.

6. In fuel burning apparatus, a fuel combustion chamber having upright fire-bricklined walls, a chamber below the combustion chamber larger in diameter than said combustion chamber, a grate larger in diameter than the fuel combustion chamber mounted in said lower chamber, and extending beneath the bottom of the fire brick wall but spaced therefrom and from the upright walls of the lower chamber, a plurality of beams wider at their central rtions than at their ends and gradually iminishing in width from said central portions to said ends, movably mounted on the grate for loosening ash and clinker from the fuel bed and causing said ash and clinker to fall through the grate and for moving the remaining loosened ash and clinker toward the side and end edges of the grate in directions both transversely and longitudinally of the beams, and means operatively connected to the beams for reciprocating the same in a direction transverse? of the beams.

7. 11 fuel burning apparatus, a fuel combustion chamber having upright fire-bricklined walls, a chamber below the combustion chamber larger in diameter than said combustion chamber, a grate larger in diameter than the fuel combustion chamber mounted in said lower chamber and extending beneath the bottom of the fire brick wall but spaced therefrom and from the upright walls of the lower chamber,a plurality of hollow, a rtured beams, wider at their central portions than at their ends, movably mounted on the ate for loosening ash and clinker from the uel bed and causing said ash and clinker to fall through the grate and for moving the remaining loosened ash and clinker toward the edges of the grate, and means operatively connected to the beams for actuating the same.

8. In combination with fuel-burning apparatus, a stationary grate located in the apparatus below the combustion chamber thereof, a plurality of drag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, said beams diminishing in width throughout substantially their entire lengths, such diminishing in width extending from the central portions of the beams towards their ends, links conneoting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said beams being adapted, when reciprocated, to move the spent fuel toward the end and side edges of the grate in directions parallel with the direction of movement of the beams as well as in directions substantially longitudinally of said beams.

9. A drag beam for loosening and dislodging ash and clinker, for use in fuel-burning apparatus, said beam being of hollow formation and having oppositely disposed apertured side surfaces, the beam gradually diminishing in width from its central portion to its end. I r

10. In combination with fuel-burning apparatus, a stationary grate having grate bars located in the apparatus below the combustion chamber thereof, a plurality of drag beams mounted on said grate and movable thereon, said beams diminishing in width throughout substantially their entire lengths,

- such diminishing in width extending from the central portions of the beams towards their ends, links connecting said beams together, and means for reciprocating said beams in a direction transversely of the beams, said beams being adapted when reciprocated longitudinally of the grate bars, to move the spent fuel not only toward opposite ends of the grate but also transversely of the grate bars toward opposite sides of the grate, the edges of the grate being spaced from the walls of the combustion chamber.

In testimony, that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention, I affiX my signature, this 17th day of April, 1929.

FRED B. HAYES. 

